Adjustable thermostat mechanism for electric flatirons



July 8, 1952 F. E. FlNLAYsoN 2,502,248

ADJUSTABLE THERMOSTAT MECHANISM FOR ELECTRIC FLATIRONS Filed June 15, 1946s 2 sHEETsf-SHEET 1 "l /5 Im/enlpor: 2 J9 Frank BFmlagson, /a @A L.- k ./20 L/ ff/H His Attorney.

July 8, 1952 F. E. FlNLAYsoN 2,602,248

ADJUSTABLE THERMOSTAT MECHANISM FOR ELECTRIC FLATIRONS Filed June l5, 1945 2 SHEETS--SHEET 2 16 H25 Figa.

Inventor: Frank E. Tzn hagson /7 v m5 Attorneg.

atentecl July 8, 12952 ADJUSTABLE THERMOSTAT MECHANISM FOR ELECTRIC FLATIRONS Frank E. Finlayson, Ontario, Calif., assigner to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application June 15, 1946, Serial No. 676,909

Claims.

This invention relates to latirons, more particularly to electrically heated flatirons, and it has for its object the provision of improved means for controlling the atiron temperature.

More particularly, this invention contemplates improvements in thermostatic means for controlling the iron heating means to hold preselected soleplate temperatures, and it contemplates an improved organization of elements resulting in an inexpensive, reliable and easily adjustable thermal control device; more especially one which includes a manually operable adjusttable control element located at the front upper part of the iron.

Moreover, this invention contemplates the provision of suitable signal means, such as an electric lamp, arranged to give a signal when the iron is at vthe proper ironing heat; and further, improved means for supporting the lamp from the thermostatic structure, and for connecting itin the energizing circuit.

For a more complete understanding of this in. vention, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. l is a vertical side elevation of an electrically heated flatiron embodying this invention, parts shown in section so as to illustrate certainstructural details; Fig. 2 is a plan view of certain of the elements shown in Fig. l; Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse sectional View taken through the line 3`3 of Fig. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan view illustrating a part of the iron shown in Figs. 1 and 3; Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan View of a portion of the iron handle structure; Fig. 6 is a sectional View taken through the line '6-5 of Fig. 5 and looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. '7 is a plan View of apart of the thermostatic switch structure; Fig. ,8 is an elevation of the part shown in Fig. '7; Figs. 9, l0 and 1l are elevations of certain elements used in the thermal control; and Fig. 12 is a perspective view illustrating the heating means, a signal lamp and the electrical connections for effecting energizing circuits for these elements.

Referring to the drawings, this invention has been shown in one form as applied to an electrically heated atiron comprising a sole-plate I0 having at its bottom the usual pressing surface I I, which plate will be made of any suitable metal, such as aluminum, and which preferably will be cast'from the metal. The soleplate has the usual shape provided with a point I2 at the forward end, and having a slightly rounded heel edge Iza opposite the point. The soleplate is ISISV heated by means of an electrical heating element which preferably is of the sheathed type, and comprises a helical electrical resistance conductor I3 (Fig. l) mounted within a tubular sheath I4 and imbedded in and held in spaced relation to the sheath by a compacted mass I5 of electrically insulating and heat conducting material, such as compacted granular magnesium oxide. Connected to opposite ends of the resistance conductor I3 and projecting from the two ends of the sheath are terminals I6 and I'l. The heating element has roughly the shape of a U (Fig. 2), and it is arranged in the soleplate I0 with its bight located at the pointed end I2 of the iron and its terminals I6 and Il at the heel end ofthe iron. Preferably, the heating element is cast within the body of the soleplate, as shown, the metal of the plate cast about the upper part of the element forming an upright rib I8.

The soleplate is covered by means of a shell I9, which has its lower edge resting upon a ledge 20 formed on the opposite sides of the soleplate, and which is secured by means of a pair of transversely-spaced screws 20a tapped into upright bosses Zlib formed on the soleplate. The shell slopes downwardly from its forward end to the rear, and at the rear it is provided with a downturned wall 2I which is spaced to the rear of the soleplate heel edge I2a,as shown, and which constitutes a heel rest for the iron. The space between the heel edge I2a and the down-turned wall 2| is closed by means of a plate 22 attached to the soleplate by means of screws 23 and projecting outwardly therefrom to engage the inner surface of the wall 2I.

Mounted on the top of the shell is a handle 24 formed of any suitable material, but preferably it will be molded of an electrically insulating material such as a phenol condensation product. The handle is provided with a hand-grasping portion 25 running from the front to the rear of the iron, and with a forward skirt section 23 and a rear upright section 2'I formed integrally with the hand-grasping portion. The rear section 2l constitutes a support for the rear end of the hand-grasping portion 25 and is secured` to the rear end of the shell by a pair of screws 28 spaced apart transversely of the shell (only one being shown in Fig. l) preferably, and as shown, the screws will pass through upright bosses 29 (Fig. 1) formed upwardly from the material of the shell and which functions to space the rear handle support 21 from ythe shell, and thereby thermally insulate it from the shell.

The forward end of the hand-grasping portion 3 25 is supported by means of a metallic upright bracket 35 having roughly the shape of a Z. This bracket, as shown, extends upwardly into a cavity 25a provided by the skirt 2 5. The lower arm 30a of this bracket rests upon a baiiie plate 3| which is mounted on the top wall of the shell I9. It is secured to the bale plate by means of a rivet 32 and is prevented from moving about the axis of the rivet by means of a down-turned section 33 which is received in an aperture provided for it in the baille plate. The baffle plate 3| in turn is secured to the top wall of the shell by means of a pair of transversely spaced rivets 34 (only one shown) positioned on opposite sides of rivet 32, and extending through downwardly extending bosses 34a, formed in the baille and spacing it from the shell. The baffle is held in spaced relation with the shell by means of the downturned bosses 34d around the rivets and which are formed from the material of which the balile is made. The upper arm 35 of thek Z-shaped bracket 35 bears against a seat 35 provided at the top of the recess 25a and it is secured to the handle by means of a self-tapping screw l. The bracket is provided with a vertical strengthening rib 3519 extending along its length, as shown.

It will be observed in View of the foregoing description that the handle 25 has but very little thermal contact with the shell. At the rear the handle engages the shell only through the bosses 29, whereas at the front it contacts the shell only through the relatively lon-g and poor heat conducting path consisting of the bracket 35, and baille 3 I, and the bosses 34a.

The function of the forward skirt section 25 of the handle is to conceal the front handle support 35; it is, as shown, in the form of an apron extending downwardly from the forward end of the hand grasping portion 25. This apron at its lower rear end 38 curves back over the top of the shell, as shown. The rear handle section 21 is provided with a similar apron 39 extending forwardly toward the apron 38, as shown, and the space between the ends of the two aprons 3B and 39 is filled by means of a metallic plate 45. The plate 40 is formed of a metal which is inherently resilient and it is caused to resiliently engage the two aprons 38 and 35, whereby it is secured to the handle; each apron preferably and as shown is provided with reduced end extensions 4i, while the baille plate d5 is given a complementary shape in cross section whereby it Ymay be snapped over the two reduced sections. As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the lower end portions of the curved aprons are shaped in cross sectionlike elongated ellipses, and the plate 45 vhas in cross section the shape of 'a wide U, the legs of which are curved under. To remove the plate, it is merely necessary to insert -a screw driver-or some other similar instrument-under one side and pry it up to spring it away. When the plate is assembled, as shown in Fig. 1, its top surface merges in a smooth line with the curved aprons.

The handle structure just described is described and claimed in my application, Serial No. 676,910, filed Vconcurrently herewith, now Patent No. 2,443,448 and assigned-to the assignee of the instant application. The thermostaticswitchand its mounting in the iiatiron as described below, is the subject of a divisional application, Serial No. 165,216, filed May 31, 1950.

The heating element is controlled by means of a thermostat 42 which is arranged to respond to the temperature of the soleplate so as to hold a substantially constant temperature in the plate.'

This thermostat comprises a supporting frame having a U-shaped base plate 43. The bight of the base is secured to the top surface of the soleplate by means of a pair of screws 43a (Fig. 2). At the outer edges of the two legs of the base plate are upright walls 44 which extend rearwardly from the bight, across the top of the soleplate. Preferably, the section of the soleplate under these rearwardly extending walls is cored out so as to form a cavity 45 (Fig. 1).

Secured under the bight of the base plate 43 is a bimetallic temperature responsive bar 45 formed of two metals having dissimilar temperature coefficients of expansion rigidly secured together lengthwise in any suitable way, as by welding. Preferably and as shown, this bar will be formed of two reversed sections in order to minimize temperature overshoot in the fashion described and claimed in the U. S. patent to R. A. Winborne No. 2,128,869, dated August 30, 1938. The thermostat bar 45 has its left-hand end, as viewed in Fig. l, secured tothe base plate 43 and its opposite end extended over the cavity 45. Clamping the thermostat bar 45 to the base plate 43 is a clamping block 4l formed of a material having a very good heat conductivity, such as aluminum. This block is provided with a central longitudinal channel-like passageway 4B in which the bimetal bar is mounted. The forward part of this block is clamped to the bimetallic bar 45 and to the base plate 43 by means of a. rivet 49. The thermostat bar is further secured to the base plate by a rivet 50 spaced rearwardly from the rivet 49, and which is not fastened in any wayto the block. A

The heat conducting clamping block is used to provide a good heat transfer between the soleplate l0 and the bimetal bar. The positioning of the thermal bar 46 below the base plate 43 and the use of the clamping plate 4l isimportant because it permits the thermostat to be setl orl calibrated as a unit outside of the iron and later assembled with the iron by means of the screws 43a without seriously disturbing the calibration, which disturbance most likely would occur if the bimetallic bar were located under the frame without the clamping block due to irregularities in the soleplate which would result in tipping or cooking of the thermostat assembly. On the other hand, if the thermostat were located on top o-f the base plate to overcome this tipping, then there would not besuch good heat transfer between the soleplate and the, bimetal bar.

The thermostatic switch further comprises a switch having a contact 5l and a cooperating contact `52. The contact 5l is mounted uponan electrically conducting arm 53 formed of a relatively stilf spring material. This arm at its rear end is rigidly secured by means of a rivet to and under a transverse section 54 of the supporting frame -which joins the rear ends of the upright walls 44 of the base plate, and it is electrically insulated from this plate by suitable material such as sheet mica. The contact 52 is mounted upon a switch arm 55 likewise made of spring material, but which has not the spring ,strength of the arm 5.3. The arm 55 is supported at the rearupon the top of the plate Vsection 54v by means of a rivet and is electrically insulated from the plate by mica. The two switch arms 53 Iand 55 are spaced apart transversely and are in substantially parallel relation, but the `forward end of the arm 53 is provided with a lateraloi- '-set `5B extending to'the. arm 55 so as tobring its 5 ontact 5l into abutting relation with the contact s2.

`The switch arm 53 biases its contact 5I upwardly, whereas the arm 55 biases its contact 52 downwardly; but the switch arm 53 bears against an adjustable stop 56a so that the contact 5I normally is a fixed or stationary contact; the contact 52 is the movable one and is operated to open and close the switch responsively to the deflection of the bimetal bar 46 as it heats and cools. The bar 46 is constructed and arranged so that its free end moves upwardly as it heats up and moves downwardly when it cools. Mounted on this free end of the bimetal bar is an upright switch actuator 51. As more clearly shown in Figs. '7 and 8, this actuator is laterally positioned with reference to the bimetal bar so that it lies directly under the spring arm 55. The actuator 51 is in the form of a tube closed at its upper end and is mounted upon the upright arm of a right angle bracket 58, the other arm of which is secured in any suitable way to the end of the thermostat, as by welding. The actuator 51 is formed of a suitable refractory electrically insulating material, and it is secured to the bracket l58 by means of a suitable cement.

The switch contacts 5I and 52 are connected in the iron heating circuit t control its energization by opening and closing. When the iron is energized but has not as yet been heated up. the top of the actuator 51 is spaced below switch arm 55, as shown in Fig. l. But when the thermostat moves upwardly as its temperature rises, it will move the actuator upwardly to close this space and engage the switch arm 55 to move it upwardly against its downward bias and thereby open the contacts I and52, whereas when the thermostat cools and deiiects downwardly it permits the switch arm 55 to return the contact 52 to re-engage contact 5| and thereby re-close the switch.

In operation, therefore, the switch arms 53 and 55 carry current for the iron heating element. These arms `preferably will be made of stainless steel or other suitable heat resistingr alloy. Such materials which may be used at ilatiron temperatures have high specic resistances. This causes some heating of the springs due to the passage of current. In the case of spring 53 this is not too important because it is relatively thicker than spring `55 and its resistance therefore is less. However, in the case of spring 55 this is important both because with its higher resistance it tends to heat to higher temperatures and because it may conduct heat to the thermal bar through the switch actuator 51. This switch arm if heated too high would act as an auxiliary booster heater for the thermostat bar, and cause it to operate with too narrow a te-mperature amplitude. 'Io obviate this, I shunt the spring arm 55 with a good heat conducting strip 59 which, as shown, overlies and is connected at one end with the switch arm and terminal |66 by the rivet fastening these members together. and at its other end is fastened between the other end of the switch arm and its contact 52. The shunt is made of brass, aluminum or other suitable good electrical conductor.

It will be remembered that the switch arm 53 holds the contact 5l in a stationary position, and further that the spring arm 53 is stronger than is the spring of the arm 55. The'armr53, however, ,is prevented from 4moving upwardly by means of the afore-mentioned stop 56a which is made of electrically insulating material and is mounted within adjusting screw `lill which in turn is threaded in one end of a lever 6I. This lever intermediate its ends and at the sides is provided with down-turned ears 62 which are journaled upon a transverse shaft 63 which passes through the ears and the side walls I44 of the base plate and which has its ends pinched or squeezed, as shown in Fig. 2, to prevent the shaft from working loose. The end of the lever 6l opposite the adjusting screw y6l) rests upon an adjusting cam 64 by means of which the position of the lever and thereby the position of the stop screw 6l] may be adjusted. This adjustment varies the position of the stop 56a and this varies the positional relationship between the switch arm -53 and consequently the arm 55 and the actuator 51. This changes the temperature setting of the control device.

It should be noted here that the afore-described connection means between the clamp plate 41, the bimetal bar 46 and the soleplate l0 is a very important feature because it preserves the calibration of the thermostat. The commercially available good heat conducting metals, such as aluminum, are relatively soft, and as a result there is a tendency for the rivet 49 to work loose. Even though this occurs, the rivet 50 remains tight since it does not go through the plate 41, and the thermal bar 46 cannot become displaced with reference to the switch which it controls, and therefore the adjusted Vpositional relationship between the bimetal bar and the switch arm 55 always remains the same.

The switch 5i, 52 is electrically connected in series with the circuit of the heating resistance i3 of the heating element, and for this purpose there is provided a terminal structure comprising a pair of rigid terminals 65 and 66 of roughly L-shape having their horizontal legs mounted on the top of the transverse plate 54 of the thermostat frame and their upright legs extended upwardly through an opening 61 in the top wall of the shell I9 and into a relatively large cavity 68 provided in the rear handle section 21, as shown. The terminal 65 is electrically insulated from the plate 54 and from both switch arms 53 and 55, whereas the terminal 66, while it is electrically insulated from the plate 54 and the terminal `65, is in electrical contact with the switch arm` 55. The terminal structure further comprises a third rigid terminal bar 69 which is mounted under the plate 54 and projects outwardly toward the rear of the shell from the plate. This terminal 68 also is electrically insulated from the other two terminals and the plate 54, but is in direct electrical engagement with the switch arm 53. The three terminals 65, 66, 69 are secured by means of the rivets which hold the two switch arms on the plate 54.

The terminals are adapted to be electrically connected to an electrical supply source by means of a twin supply conductor 10 entering into the recess 68 in the rear handle section 21 through an aperture 1I in a sidewall of this recess, as more clearly shown in Fig. 3. This conductor is provided with a sheath-like guard 12 which is anchored in the recess by a head 13. Also a metallic strain relief plate 14 is clamped to the cord. One conductor 15 of the supply cord is connected to the terminal 65 by means of a'screw 16 and by means of the same screw and a conductor 11 is electrically connected with the terminal [E of the'heating element. The other terminal if! ofthey heating element is connected with the terminal t9, which is in electricalengagement withthe switch arm` 53. by means of a conductor 'i8 connected at one end to thev terminal and at its other end with the terminalv 69 by means of a screw 19. The terminal 6G, which is in electrical engagement with the switch arm 55, is electrically connected with theY other conductor Si: of the supply cord by means of a screw 8|.

In view of these connections, it will be observedthat the switch contacts i and 52 are electrically connected in series with the heating element. resistance i3 and with the supply source so that when the switch contacts are in engagement the heating element is energiaed, whereas when they are opened the heating element is deenergized; The thermostat de, in operating the switch contact 52 away from and to return into engagement with contact 5| in response to rise andfali in temperature, operates tc hold the desired temperature in the soleplate.

As has been explained previously, the temper ature so held may be varied by varying the position of the contact 5| which varies the space between the switch actuator 5l and the switch armvand this is accomplished by changing the position of the abutment 55a; this in turn is accomplished by setting the cam ed which varies the position of the lever 6|. The cam @d comprises a circular disc-likel base plate 82 which is arranged to rotate upon a support 9.3 which is formed as an extension of the base plate 3 of the support frame, this support being positioned in elevated relation from the plate a3 by a vertically offset section Bil. The part 83 not only supports the cam, but it functions as a bearing for the cam base plateA il?, and for this purpose it is provided with a plurality of uprightY rounded bosses 85 which engage the under surface of the cam plate. Superimposed upon and secured to the cam plate i2 is a circular cam member ileshaped to define a cam rise 8l on its periphery, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2; it is secured to the cam base plate in any suitable way as by spot welding. At the center the cammemher 8S is provided with a cone-shaped depressionv 83 which extends downwardly through a central aperture provided for it in the base plate 82;; and the cambearing 83 likewise is provided with a cone-shaped depression 89 at the center. The cam 54 is secured to the extension 83- by means of a spring 9i! which is formed integrallyV with the cam base 52 and extends outwardly from one edge thereof and thence is folded thereunder, as shown in Fig. 1. On the end of the spring 0S there is formed a lip 9i and also an aperture which is received by an extrusion 92 formed on the frame at the lower endof the depression S9. To assemble the camwith the extensionr 83 the assembly of the cam and spring is slipped over oneedge of the extension and the spring snapped over the extrusion withthe aperture in its end receiving the extrusion. The lip helps to snap the spring over the extrusion. The actionof the spring SQ holds the cam plate S2 against the protuberances upon which it rides.

The cam Sei, is rotated by means of a e3 which is vertically positioned the forward end of the iron,` and .which extends upwardlycfrom the cam lstructure through openingsed and provided for it in the top wall of the shell andiin the-baille plate 3i, respectively, and thence extends upwardly-into the recess ita provided by S. theV skirt 25 at the forward end of handle 25. At its lower end this shaft is provided with a pair of keys @ily positioned on opposite sides of the shaft and which preferably will be formed by squeezing orpinching out sections of the shaft. These keys are arranged to operate in complementary slots 91 lprovided in the cam plate 86. They also function to ride upon the top surface of the bottom wall of the conical depression 89 in the support S3 and-thereby support the shaft in itsvertical position. The thermostat control cam structure and mounting in the i'latiron described above, is the subject of another divisional application, Serial No. 165,215, filed May 3l, 1950.

At the top of the shaft 93 there is a pair of oppositely positioned keys 98 similar to the keys 96 and preferably arranged in the same angular relation with reference to the shaft as are the keys 96. The keys 98 at the top of the shaft eiect a driving connection with an operating lever 99 which is positioned at right angles to the shaft and which extends outwardly through the front wall of the recess 26a, the wall being provided with an elongated transverse slot |00 for this purpose. The lever 99 on its inner end is provided with an upwardly extending inverted cup-shaped protuberance ||l| which is provided in its upper wall with slots (not shown, but similar to slots-91) and which receive the keys 98 to eifect a driving connection between the lever and the shaft. Thus when the lever 99 is operated transversely in the slot |00 the shaft 93 is rotated in order to adjust the cam.

The upper end of theshaft 93 is journaled in a bearing provided for it in'an extension |02 provided on the forward end of the upper arm 35 of the handlersupport 30.

On theforward endof the lever 99 which projects from the slot, |00 there is attached an operating knob |03.

Also mounted within slot |00 is a temperature indication plate |04 which is roughly semi-circular in shape and which is so constructed and arranged that when it is inserted in the slot |00 a peripheral portion |05 thereof is exposed to view, andupon thisexposed portion there are suitable indications .for soleplate temperature settings for ironing various materials, such as rayon, silk, wool, cotton and linen, as shown in Fig. 4. Also, as there shown, it has an indication for Off in which position of the lever 99 the cam is so positioned that it moves the contact 5| downwardly so far that it leaves the contact 52 which will be heldin an upper open position by the actuator 5l. The cam-rise surface 8l gradually risesffrom a highy temperature setting position corresponding to Linen to a low temperature position correspending to Rayon and thenhas an abrupt rise |05a which is the Off position; in this position of the cam, the lever 6| is operated to depress the abutment 56a so far downwardly that switch arm 53 separates its contact 5| from contact 52, which latter contact is supported by the actuator 51 on the thermostat. As the caml is rotated from the Oif position it first permits the arm 53 to riseA to reclose the contacts and thence as it continues to move increases the space between actuator 5l and switch arm 55, and thereby increases the temperature setting. Upright ears |05b and |050 function to limit motion of Vcam in assembly andv insure properpositioning of the cam. 1 l Y The indicator plate |04 is provided with a circular opening |06 which receives the upwardly extendingvboss-IUI of the lever 99, andfaround 9, this boss and sandwiched between the lever 9,9 and the plate |04 is a cup-shaped spring I 01 which biases the two members apart and which holds them firmly in the iron assembly by forcing them against the upper and lower walls of the slot respectively.

It will be understood that to assemble the shaft 93, the lever 99 and the indicating plate |04 with their associated parts, first the shell I9 with the handle attached will be separated from the soleplate, then the lever 99 will be assembled with the spring |01 and with the temperature plate |04 in their proper relative positions shown in Fig. 1. This assembly will then be inserted into the slot |00. Then the shaft 93 will be inserted through the chamber 26a so that its upper end passes through the apertures in the lever and indicating plate and so that its keys 98 are received in the slots provided for them in the protuberance I 0| The shaft, of course, is forced inwardly until its upper end is received in the opening provided for it in the bracket extension |02. Preferably, means will be provided for holding the shaft up in its assembled position. This means comprises a spring member I01a of roughly U- shape positioned under and against the lower surface of the top wall of the shell. The legs of this member straddle the shaft 93, and at the outer edge of the bight of the U there is an upwardly and outwardly offset tongue |011)` which has its top outwardly extending part yoverlying the top wall of the shell. Formed on the inner edge of the bight between the two legs is an upright flexible spring arm I01c which bears against the shaft and holds it in place. The spring also functions to prevent rattling of the shaft when the iron is in use. After the shaft is assembled, as described, and the spring I01a applied, the handle and shell are moved into assembled relation with the soleplate, while the lower end of the rod 93 is moved into the conical protuberance 88 of cam 86 which guides it to the central slots 91 therein, and thence into the conical projection 89 of frame 83 which guides it to its central aperture. If when the shell is assembled the keys 98 do not register with the slots 91, the knob |03 will be moved back and forth until they do; and when they do the shell may be lowered in position on the soleplate, and then secured by the screws 20a. After this the cover plate 40 may be snapped in place to cover the screws.

While the knob |03 is used by the operator to adjust the temperature setting, at times it may be desired to change the basic calibration of the thermostat. This may be done readily by adjusting the screw 60 in which the insulator 56a, is supported. This may be done conveniently through an opening |09 provided in the top wall of the shell I9 immediately above the screw and through which a suitable instrument, such as a screw driver may be inserted to set the screw. It will be observed that the screw 60 is accessible when the plate 40 is removed. Preferably, a spring IIO will be provided to hold the screw B0 in any position in which it is adjusted.

Suitable signal means are provided for rindieating when the thermostat is closed and when it is opened. This means comprises a gas glow lamp III located within the chamber 68 of the rear handle section 21. This lamp is mounted in a U-shaped bracket II.2 having a base |I3 at the bottom supporting the base of the lamp, and a pair of prongs I I4 at the top resiliently engaging and holding the other end of the lamp. The bracket I|2 is attached to the terminal 66 by .means of a rivet IIE. One terminal of the lamp is electrically connected with the terminal 6E and Ithereby to the supply conductor by being clamped between the terminal and the bracket, as more clearly shown in Fig. 3. The other terminal Vof the lamp is connected with the terminal 69 through a current limiting resistance IIB. In view of this arrangement it will be observed that when the switch is closed the lamp will be shortcircuited and thereby be deenergized whereas when the switch is open the lamp will be connected in series with heater I3 and across the supply source and thereby energized to light. The lamp is viewed through a window I|1 located in the side wall of the chamber 68 opposite the lamp, as shown in Fig. 3, and which window may be covered by means of a light-distributing lens. It will be observed that the lamp is supported on the rigid thermostat terminal 66, and that no other supporting means are required. Moreover, as it is mounted on a line terminal one side of lamp is always at the terminal potential. Because of the lamp mounting, and compact wiring of lamp and thermostat it is very diiicult to short the thermostat, which shorting is very undesirable, since if it occcurred it would cause the iron to burn up.

While I have shown and described a particular embodiment of my invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from my invention in its broader aspects and I therefore aim in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In an electric fiatiron of the class having a soleplate with electric heating means, a shell covering the soleplate, a thermostat within the shell for controlling the heating means responsively to the soleplate temperature. a handle for the iron attached to the shell and having a generally upright section provided with a chamber therein, and manual means for effecting temperature adjustment of the thermostat including an axially rotatable temperature adjustment rod for the thermostat located in the chamber and extending vertically upward therein from within the shell, and means within the shell for transmitting temperature adjustment movement to said thermostat upon rotation of said rod, that improvement in the manual adjustment means which comprises a bearing in the chamber for lone end of the rod, a bearing within the shell for the other end of the rod, a generally horizontal lever arm connected to said rod to rotate it and projecting from said chamber through a transverse slot formed in said upright handle section, a at plate mounted in said slot and having a peripheral temperature indication section with markings projecting from said slot so as to be visible from the exterior of said iron, said flat lplate being stationary and said lever arm being adjustable relatively thereto, and a spring element interposed between said lever arm and plate, forcing them one against the upper wall and the other against the lower wall of said slot to hold them in assembled relationship with each other and with said upright handle section.

2. In an electric atironrof the class having a soleplate with electric heating means, a shell covering the soleplate, a thermostat within the shell for controlling the heating means responsively to the soleplate temperature, a handle for the iron attached -to the shell `and having'a generally upright section provided with a chamber therein, and manual means for effecting temperature adjustment of the thermostat including an axially rotatable temperature adjustmentrod for said thermostat located in said chamber vand extending vertically upward therein from within said shell, and means vwithin the shell'for transmitting temperature adjustmentv movement to said thermostat upon rotation of said rod, that improvement in the manual adjustment means which comprises a bearing inrthe chamber for one endof the rod, a bearing within the shellfor the other end of the rod, a generally horizontalleverarm projecting from said chamber through va transverse slot formed in said upright handle section,

a cup-shaped member within said chamber oonnected with said lever arm and keyed to said vrod so as to effect a driving connection between said lever arm and rod, -a flat temperature indicating yplate Within said chamber having a hole therein isembled relation .with each other and with'said handleisection.

13.* Inan1electric ilatiron lof the class having a soleplate with electric lheating means,- :a.she1l covering the soleplate, a'thermostat within the shell for controlling the heating means Yresponsively to thesoleplate temperature, ahandlejfor the iron mountedon theshellxand 'having a for- Ward generally upright sectionprovided with a chamber therein vand :also having a generally horizontal. hand-grasping portion extendingirearwardly :from said forward section, and :manual means Vfor eiecting temperatureadjustment of the thermostat including an axially rotatable temperature adjustment rod for the thermostat located in the'chamber and extending vertically upward thereinfrom within theshelL'andmeans within thezshell for transmitting temperatureadjustment movement to said thermostat uponl rotation of'said rod, that mprovementin themanual adjustment vmeans and in thehandle-mounting which comprises a wall insaid chamber which ,denesa flat handle mounting surface, anupright bracket attached at its lower end to said shell and extending up into said chamber, said bracket having atits upper endk a lateral extension against which said handle mounting surface. rests and t0 which itis attached, and said lateral extension. having a projection which denes a bearing in which the upper end of said rod is rotatably supported, .a Vbearing within the shell for the other end of the rod, and a lever arm connected to said rod torotate. it and having 'an operating section projecting v'from said cham- .ber through a slot'provided for it in said forward upright handle section. n

4. In an electric fiatiron of the class having a solejzalatevvithv electric heating means, a shell covering the soleplate, a thermostat within the shell for controlling the heating means responsively to the soleplate temperature, a handle for-theiron Vattached to .theshell and having a generally upright'apron section dening a chambenan axially .rotatable vtemperature adjustment rod for 'the thermostat located in the chamber and extending upwardly therein and means for eiecting temperatureadjustments of said thermostat by the rotation of said rod, that improvement in the temperature adjustment means which comprises va leverarm connected to said rod to rotate it, an operating section on said arm Yprojecting rom'said chamber'through a slot provided for it in said uprighthandle section, anda spring mounted on saidfshell and engaging said' rod so as to hold it in its upright position in said chamber and .against rattling.

5. In van electric :flatiron of the class :having a soleplate with electricheating means, a shell covering the soleplate, .a 'thermostat within the shell .for .controlling the heating means responsively to the soleplate temperature, a handle for the iron attached tothe shell and having agenerally upright apron section vd'eiining a ychamber, an axially rotatabletemperature'adjustment `rod for the thermostatV located in the chamber and extending upwardly therein .and means for eiecting temperature adjustments of said thermostatby the rotation'of` said.. rod, that. improvement in Vthe temperature adjustment means which comprises a lever arm connected to said rod to rotate it, kan opera-ting section on said arm projecting 'from said chamber 'through a slot pro- `vided'for it in said upright .handle section, and a memberon said shell :having a'spring tongue extending up into` said chamber along the side of said rod and'biasedto Yengage it so as to tend to hold said rod in its upright position infsaid chamber and againstv rattling.

v'Elttdbll E. FINLAYS'GN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record inthe lc of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,380,291 :Danylchuk May 31,1921 2,008,163 Walder July 16, 1935 2,196,416 Jacob Apr. 9, 1940 2,198,924 Smith Apr. .30, 1940 2,235,893 Kuhn et al Mar. 25, 1941 2,267,387 Winborne Dec. 23, 1941 2,299,462 Clark et, al Oct. 20, 1942 2,398,579 Clark et al. Apr. 16, 1946 v2,403,115 Olving July `2, 1946 ,2,418,285 Witzel Apr. .1, 1947 

